A Tadcaster councillor has joined the row about the renovation of the Central Area Car Park - backing Selby District Council in its dispute with Sam Smiths Brewery.

District and town councillor Roderic Parker told the Evening Press that Tadcaster Town Council was planning to contact the district council and urge it to supply more information about the dispute to local residents.

"They could still do more to tell local people what is going on. The people of Tadcaster want to see this development go ahead," said Coun Parker.

The future of the £500,000 council-funded revamp of the car park is uncertain, following a legal challenge by Sam Smiths regarding how it should be refurbished.

Last week the brewery put bollards around a strip of land used for private parking and access because it claimed there was a "lack of co-operation" by the council to achieve a privately-funded town centre improvement scheme.

Coun Parker said: "The council isn't free of mistakes, but it has gone out of its way to find a solution to this dispute."

Angela Usher, chairwoman of the town's Chamber of Trade and Commerce, has called for both sides to put aside their differences to bolster flagging trade in Tadcaster.

Mrs Usher has said businesses were behind the Sam Smiths bid to renovate the car park along with parts of the town.

Updated: 08:36 Wednesday, July 09, 2003